Chicago police have issued an alert, asking the public for help tracking down the driver of a white semi tractor who struck and critically injured a bicyclist on Tuesday afternoon in McKinley Park. Still photos taken from surveillance video were posted on Twitter last night by the CPD showing the vehicle on South Ashland Avenue a few minutes before the incident:
The crash took place at approximately 4:25 p.m. on October 7th near the 3600 block of South Ashland, according to DNAInfo Chicago. The truck was heading south when he allegedly hit a 47 year old man on a bicycle then left the scene. Police describe the driver as a white male in this thirties with a slender to medium build, blonde hair with a short clean cut beard. Anyone with information about this incident or the driver is asked to contact the Chicago Police Department Major Accident Investigation United at 312.745.4521. The name of the bicyclist has not been released.
Unfortunately hit and run incidents like this are not uncommon. Recently, our law firm held a trucking company responsible for causing injury to a bicyclist even though the driver left the scene and was never located. Illinois law dictates that a commercial truck bearing a company logo and US-DOT number of a corporation is operating pursuant to the corporation's authority, and therefore, the corporation is vicariously liable for the driver's negligence. It is a bit difficult to see markings on the truck involved in Tuesday's incident in the photo released by police. However, closer study of the video may reveal the name of the trucking company and the vehicle's U.S. DOT number. Hopefully, the driver will be located and held responsible. But if he is not, it may be possible to hold his employer liable for the damage he caused.
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